Today I addressed a Native Issues Forum hosted by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The forum was a great opportunity to discuss issues of importance to Alaska. The Alaska Native community constitutes 22% of Southeast Alaska’s population and I was glad to speak on issues of importance to not only the Alaska Native community, but the Southeast region.
Energy and job creation are key to improving our economy and quality of life. Investments in energy lower the cost of living for families and attract businesses to our region. 80% of households in Southeast heat with expensive diesel fuel. Renewable energy through regional hydroelectrical projects supports growth in our economy by lowering the cost of power. This will be crucial in energizing shoreside seafood plants and future mining ventures. The legislature has made major investments in energy infrastructure over several years. Hydro projects at Blue Lake in Sitka, Whitman Lake in Ketchikan, Thayer Lake in Angoon, and Gartina Falls in Hoonah will vastly improve energy security in Southeast. We’ve also worked to construct electrical interties between Petersburg and Kake, and Metlakatla and Ketchikan to connect rural communities and bring down energy costs.
Another important issue is to preserve Southeast Alaska’s heritage. The legislature is playing an active role in cultural preservation. During the past several years I’ve helped secure funding for repairs to the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) Hall in Sitka and new totem poles at the Chief Shakes Tribal House in Wrangell. This capital budget funding will support rehabilitation and restoration of the historically-significant ANB Hall in anticipation of ANB’s 100th anniversary this year.
I enjoyed meeting with the Tlingit and Haida Central Council and look forward to working with them to continue progress on these regional issues. You can watch video of my speech here.
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